North Sydney woman Emma Fitzgerald lives and breathes football.
When she’s not at her day job as a market researcher, she’s playing for her local over 35s team, refereeing matches, and acting as secretary for the NSW branch of the Manchester United Supporters Club.
She even called her dog ‘Fergie’ after the legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
"Football is definitely like being part of a family, and it's like a religion," she told SBS News.
Ms Fitzgerald was born in the English town of Romford, Essex, and came to live in Australia 15 years ago.
Emma Fitzgerald has lived in Australia for 15 years but her loyalties lie with England. Source: SBS News
But the football bug was well and truly embedded many years before that, thanks to her dad and uncle.
“Growing up they used to play for the same football club and I used to be on the sideline kicking a ball around ... then as I got older I realised there were teams other than ones that they played for.”
She’s been a firm fan of Manchester United and England ever since and plays socially for West Pymble Football Club in Sydney's North.
Inequality in the game
England may be credited with inventing football, but the country still faces criticism in the women's game, including unfair treatment and pay inequality.
Players in the (men’s) EPL earn on average £3 million a year, according to the 2018 Sporting Intelligence Global Sports Salary Survey, amounting to more than 100 times what the women in the equivalent league get.
The former coach of England's Lionesses, Mark Sampson, lost his job in 2017 following an investigation into racially discriminatory remarks he made to two England players.
He reached a settlement with the Football Association this year and apologised, telling the BBC: "As a white male I needed to do more and I've worked hard to educate myself".
But things are improving, particularly when it comes to sponsorship and recognition.
The England side for the SheBelieves Cup in the US earlier this year. Source: NurPhoto/Getty Images
Health and beauty retailer Boots UK signed a multimillion-pound three-year deal to sponsor the national team in March, and famous faces David Beckham, Prince William and Emma Watson were brought on board to help announce the Women’s World Cup squad.
Football was the fastest growing participation sport among girls in the UK last year, and Ms Fitzgerald said the game is much more accessible to young girls in Australia now too.
"It's so good to see girls like my niece, Sienna, playing and having those aspirations".
England lost a heartbreaking semi-final to Japan at the last Women’s World Cup and will look to go one step further under Sampson's replacement Phil Neville.
Ms Fitzgerald and her fellow players at a West Pymble Football Club training session. Source: John Baldock - SBS
Ms Fitzgerald is heading to the tournament in France and will see both England and the Matildas and England play.
"They're both in the top ten, they've both got really good chances to do well in this tournament," she said.
But there’s no question about where her loyalties lie.
"I've been English longer than I've been Australian so I'll always support England first, but I'd be delighted if they played each other in the final."
England face Scotland in their first group game on 10 June.
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup takes place in France, 7 June-7 July.
Read more news from the and see the rest of the stories in the .
SBS will offer all Matildas matches, the opening game, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final live, free and in HD. All SBS games will also be live streamed on website and app.
